"I'd take a draw for sure. It was two evenly balanced teams really, and it's all to play for still.

"You wouldn't like to pick a favourite. They're a good side and they're always going to be dangerous.

"They'll come to our place and be dangerous, so it's all to play for."

The 67-year-old was quick to defend his tactics, insisting that he had not played for a draw and had fielded an array of attacking talent that was enough to win the game.

"I picked an attacking team. I played with two out-and-out wingers, a striker, Ravel Morrison. Most people, certainly the lads I've spoken to, felt maybe we should be more defensive away from home in the first leg.

"We had to defend, we all did our jobs. It certainly wasn't a defensive-minded team, it was an attacking one.

"Kevin (Doyle) can grab a goal and he works hard. He's a great pro and put in a great shift.

"Niko Kranjcar came on and he's a fantastic little footballer, and I gave Ravel a breather for the last 15 minutes or so.

"I didn't bring players on to shore it up, they were players who I thought could come on and maybe do something for us."

Morrison was replaced by Kranjcar as the game wore on after the West Ham loanee struggled to make an impact, though Redknapp understood the youngster's frustration and instead hoped that it would motivate him for the second leg.

"He looked disappointed that he was coming off. You've got to be disappointed if you get subbed, but it's a team game and he knows that.

"He's been as good as gold since he's been with us.

"I was bringing Niko Kranjcar on who's got 80 caps for Croatia, he's not exactly the worst player in the world, so it's not an insult!"

Asked how he sees the second leg playing out, Redknapp reiterated his belief that the tie was evenly poised.

"Even, even. We played them the other week at our place and they were very good. We won 1-0 but it was a very close game.